On May 15th the Senate Governance and Finance Committee, Chaired by Senator Lois Wolk, will hear the Senator’s own SCA 7, which, as we have reported, will reduce the local voter threshold for library construction bonds, and special taxes for library operations, from the current 2/3 to 55%.

Also scheduled for hearing that day are SCA 3 (Leno) which lowers the voter threshold to 55% for school parcel taxes, SCA 4 (Liu), which lowers the voter threshold to 55% for special taxes for transportation projects, SCA 8 (Corbett), which lowers the voter threshold to 55% for special taxes for transportation projects, and SCA 9 (Hancock) which lowers the voter threshold to 55% for special taxes.

Clearly, with so many measures seeking to constitutionally authorize the lowering of the voter threshold, there eventually will need to be a larger discussion about these bills cumulatively by the Senate leadership. Please continue to send your letters of support to SCA 7 Chair and bill author, Senator Lois Wolk so that CLA’s sponsored measure will remain an active part of the leadership discussions.

Assemblyman Williams, a co-author on SCR 14, spoke to the vital need for libraries in our communities. Also speaking in support of SCR 14 was freshman Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, who noted that “libraries are the heart and soul of our communities,” and mentioned the important services they provide, including their function as “job centers,” noting “daily lines of people waiting to use computers.” The resolution was well received by the entire Assembly, with 75 bipartisan members of the Assembly signing on to the bill as co-authors. SCR 14 was subsequently passed on a unanimous vote.

NOTE: Please look for an important “News From the Capitol” from us on Monday regarding the developments in the Assembly and Senate Budget Subcommittees, held late this week.